Cusick's Sunflower

Perennials, 60–120 cm (taproots stout, parsniplike). Stems erect to prostrate, glabrous or glabrate. Leaves cauline; mostly opposite, petioles 0–1 cm; blades (light to dark green, 3-nerved at bases) lance-linear to lanceolate, 5–15 × 0.5–2.5 cm, bases cuneate, margins entire, abaxial faces glabrous or scabro-hispid, gland-dotted. Heads 1–3. Peduncles 2–10 cm. Involucres hemispheric, 12–28 mm diam. Phyllaries 12–18, lanceolate, 11–18 × 1.5–3 mm, apices acute to acuminate, abaxial faces gland-dotted. Paleae (lanceolate) 9–13 mm, subentire or 3-toothed (apices sparsely hairy, sometimes gland-dotted). Ray florets 12–16; laminae 20–35 mm (abaxial faces gland-dotted). Disc florets 40+; corollas 6.5–7.5 mm, lobes yellow; anthers usually dull orange or orange-brown, sometimes yellowish, appendages dull orange to yellowish. Cypselae 4–5 mm, glabrate; pappi of 2 aristate scales 3–4.2 mm. 2n = 34.

Helianthus cusickii is a species of sunflower known by the common names Cusick's sunflower and turniproot sunflower. It is native to the western United States from Washington, Oregon, Idaho, northern California, and northwestern Nevada.

Helianthus cusickii grows in mountain forests and foothills. This wildflower is a perennial up to 120 cm (4 feet) tall, growing from a thick, fleshy taproot. The lance-shaped leaves reach 15 centimeters (6 inches) in length, and the stem and foliage are often covered in long hairs. The flower heads have a base of long, hairy green phyllaries. The center of the head is filled with at least 40 yellow disc florets surrounded by 12–16 ray florets.

Some Plateau Indian tribes used the roots to treat erectile dysfunction, wasting, and tuberculosis.